Simple Procedural Skybox V3.1

Simple Procedural Skybox​

This is the official thread to my asset Simple Procedural Skybox. The asset was not updated for more than a year so now I give them a birth with the new look to V3.0.



Chat anything about this asset here. Suggestion, problem, ideas are welcomed here.

 

I just submitted V3.1. Changes include some final touches that will make skies not "so dark" in the night and make sun bit yellower at sunset.

 

Publish a version for unity 5.4

 

@BMadrid relax. You're blowing my cover. I have a plan about this asset to be upgraded in near days... with lots of surprise...



Yep. Moons there. Huge refinements in editor, sun, clouds just to make it feels more natural and simple. The only thing that hold it now is updating the documentation. I also made a plan to be downgraded to 5.4 just for you so be patient for that .

 

I'll wait patiently. Thanks for keeping the interest Although I am anxious

 

@BMadrid.

Bad news. I can't rollback. Scripts and shader are fine but example scenes were broken.
However, If you want, I can send you the package so you can use the asset in 5.4.

 

Yep, V3.2 just available today. I haven't update the screenshot but mostly stays the same. The online documentation is updated too.

 

OMG! Last post was 2017. Did I just buy sucker bait or this still supported?

 

Whoa, I wasn't aware that. Did you come to any problem using this asset?

 

Hi @WillNode !

Yeah, a couple. I wasn't sure at first what to do with the scripts, but the example scene helped.

I was getting 4 errors all relating to the float "phase":

Evaluate: time parameter is not a valid number​

and

Assertion failed on expression: 'curveT >= GetRange().first && curveT <= GetRange().second'​

and

Assertion failed on expression: 'curveT >= m_Curve[lhs].time && curveT <= m_Curve[rhs].time'​

and

Evaluate: time parameter is not a valid number​

I fixed those by testing for numbers less than 0 and greater than 1.

Now I am going to track time so I can do SunRise/Set and other time related things. Good to see your still around.

Thanks!
Mark

 

You welcome. It's really good that you starts getting understand the scripts. Don't hesitate to come back here asking questions

 

I'm back!
I've modified the scripts to my liking. I have synchronized the movement of the sun/moon with the passing of time and now display the "phases" of the day along with an game time clock. Working like a charm.

Now I am about to introduce weather to the mix. I will start off with what I think should be the simple stuff, like increasing the number and/or size of clouds, and if possible, their heights. I see that this can be achieved by referencing the SimpleProcedural skybox parameters. Any hints or tips?

Cheers!
Mark

 

Oh, right.

You can change the material parameters using script like SetFloat. I recommend that you open the SimpleProceduralSkybox shader to see which shader properties name (in scripting) belongs to. Other than that it's all depends on how or when things should change when your game is running.

 

OK, poked around a bit. Now I have a better understanding of the skybox parameters.
I am looking to increase the cloud cover using Lerp if a Random.Range call is a certain value.

Here is my simple test code:

Code (CSharp):

1.  
2. //In Update():
3.         if (!weatherChecked && worldTimeHour == 10 && minutes == 55 || worldTimeHour == 23 && minutes == 55)
4. // Check at around 11am and again at close to midnight... Might move to just midnight to hide if Lerp doesn't work.
5.         {
6.             float cloudFilterAmount = Random.Range(-1f, 2f);
7.             StopCoroutine(CheckTheWeather(cloudFilterAmount)); // Stop Coroutine to avoid memory leaks.
8.             StartCoroutine(CheckTheWeather(cloudFilterAmount));
9.         }
10.  
11. IEnumerator CheckTheWeather(float cloudFilterAmount)
12.     {
13.         if (Random.Range(1, 100) < 50) // 50% of the time, change the cloud filter to some value.
14.         {
15.             weatherChecked = true;  // bool used in Update().
16.             //Randomize cloud cover!
17.             RenderSettings.skybox.SetFloat("_CloudFilter", Mathf.Lerp(RenderSettings.skybox.GetFloat("_CloudFilter"), cloudFilterAmount, Time.deltaTime / halfquarterDay));  // Seems to jump rather than Lerp.
18.  
19.             Debug.Log("Randomizing clouds " + RenderSettings.skybox.GetFloat("_CloudFilter"));
20.         }
21.         yield return new WaitForSeconds(cloudFilterAmount + 0.5f);
22.         weatherChecked = false;
23.     }
24.  

Question 1: Is _CloudFilter the "right" parameter to use to increase the cloud cover?
Question 2: Any idea why my Lerp just jumps to the target# rather than changing over time?

Mark

 

1. Correct. You also may want to manipulate _CloudLowAlt and _CloudHighAlt so that it appears shifting over time
2. You need to loop the coroutine in order for transition happens, like

Code (CSharp):

1.  IEnumerator CheckTheWeather(float cloudFilterAmount)
2.     {
3.         if (Random.Range(1, 100) < 50) // 50% of the time, change the cloud filter to some value.
4.         {
5.             weatherChecked = true;  // bool used in Update().
6.             //Randomize cloud cover!
7.             float original = RenderSettings.skybox.GetFloat("_CloudFilter");
8.             float time = Time.time;
9.             float duration = cloudFilterAmount + 0.5f;
10.             while (time + duration > Time.time)
11.             {
12.                 RenderSettings.skybox.SetFloat("_CloudFilter", Mathf.Lerp(original, cloudFilterAmount, (Time.time - time) / duration));
13.                 yield return null;
14.             }
15.             Debug.Log("Randomizing clouds " + RenderSettings.skybox.GetFloat("_CloudFilter"));
16.         }
17.         weatherChecked = false;
18.     }
19.